Hamilton speech plans scuppered

Lewis Hamilton was forced to cancel an event he organised for his McLaren team - because they had already signed up for a charity fun-run with team-mate Jenson Button.

Hamilton has had little chance to speak to the team about his move for Mercedes for 2013, which was confirmed in the gap between the grands prix in Singapore and Japan.

As in previous seasons, he booked out a bowling alley for the Saturday night before the Japanese Grand Prix, and planned to say a few words about his impending departure. But he had to cancel his plans.

He told several Sunday newspapers: "I booked 16 lanes at the bowling alley for Saturday night, but something else came up so the guys weren't able to do it. They were already committed before. They went for a run with JB or something like that."

There is no suggestion team members deliberately chose to shun Hamilton's planned event, but it is an unfortunate episode to emerge at the end of a week which started with a misguided Twitter attack on Button, who he wrongly believed had unfollowed him.

But Hamilton expects he will get another chance to address the team over his switch to Mercedes after a 14-year working relationship, and Press Association Sport understands the 27-year-old will visit McLaren's Woking base on Friday.

"I am sure at one stage, probably back at the factory, I will get a chance," he said.

"I'm pretty sure I will be able to. A lot of drivers [at McLaren] have come and gone - just left. But it's different for me.

"I have a good relationship with these people. I did my work experience here [at McLaren's headquarters in Woking] when I was at school. It was fantastic and where I built a great bond with a lot of people who are still there today.

"I will try but of course there will be people who are happy I am going, some who are unhappy I am going. Some who will be sad, some who will be supportive - that's how things are."